Pattern means for knitting machine



April 28, 1959 (31F. MiLLER PATTERN MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1956 INVENTOR. CHARLES F. MILLER ATTORNEY United States Patent PA'ITERN IVIEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE Charles F. Miller, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 14, 1956, Serial No. 591,366

4 Claims. (Cl. 66-156) This invention relates to a pattern means for knitting machines, more especially, one of the type in which a perforated, flexible, endless pattern strip is passed over a driven roller with which certain pattern sensing means function.

It is an object of the invention to improve such pattern means so that the pattern may serve for a much longer period of time before replacement due to wear becomes necessary.

A further object is that of devising a pattern which will be very easily oriented so that it becomes most unlikely that it shall be placed in operative position while reversed.

Other objects will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In knitting machines of the type illustrated in United States Patents 2,082,127 and 2,281,721 at each selecting point about the machine instrumentalities are selected by means of a pattern mechanism including among other parts a pattern drum, a pattern and selectors for sensing the pattern as it is advanced by the drum and imparting the dictates of the pattern to the instrumentalities which may be any of the usual needles, sinkers, jacks, and the like. These drums are grooved lengthwise at spaced intervals and have sprocket teeth at each end by which the pattern of paper or similar strip material is advanced. This pattern has perforations which register with the grooves or slots in the drum as they pass over it. A series of selector members in the form of pivoted levers have spring pressed feeler pins or the like which ride on the pattern except as they may become aligned with a perforation in the pat ern in which event they pass through it into the slot in the drum. A selector thus encountering a perforation will be pushed inwardly by the moving drum in the manner disclosed in the patents above noted.

According to the prior art, each slot and its sprocket tooth have been symmetrically disposed about a common center line and so have the sprocket holes in the pattern and their accompanying perforations. The teeth fit the sprocket holes fairly tightly in a new pattern and thus the perforations which define the pattern register more or less evenly to either side of the slot center lines. The feeler pins or the like are also centered to enter the mid point of the slots so that all these elements register very nicely when the pattern is new.

When worn considerably, trouble is experienced and the life of a pattern is, of course, definitely limited. The teeth wear their sprocket holes is driving so that gradually the pattern will lag more and more. Since the feeler pins mustbe centered fairly well in the slots of the drum there comes atime when this retarding of the pattern will cause perforations to lag to a point where the pins will not readily enter, but-rather, will be resisted by the material at the edge thereof. This, of course, may result in patterning deifects.

Again these patterns according to the prior art have had to be mar kedvery carefully and the knitter must be careful inputting a pattern on its druni since they go on 2,883,841 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 as easily one way as the other and will effect patterning at the instrumentalities, but, if reversed, will cause the pattern to be reversed. Except in patterns where that makes no difference, considerable defective fabric may be knitted before the error is discovered.

According to the invention, the drum is constructed in its usual form and to substantially its usual proportions, but the pattern is so devised that the perforations for the feeler pins are advanced with respect to sprocket holes aligned therewith to some extent. At the start off using a pattern the pins clear the trailing ends of the perforations and, in fact, that end of the perforations will just fail to cover their drum slots. Then the longer perforations reach in the advancing direction about to a line extended across from that end of the sprocket hole with which they may be considered to function. Thus the perforations are not symmetrical, but are considerably advanced relatively to that center line of their slots and feeler pins. If a pattern according to the invention is placed on a drum in reversed position that fact becomes readily apparent and the knitter may easily be schooled to place all patterns correctly.

Since there is at the start with a new pattern, much more of the perforation ahead of the pin than behind it, sprocket holes may wear very considerably without danger of the perforations becoming so badly misaligned that the pins may fail to enter. Much more wear may be experienced before it becomes necessary to discard a worn pattern.

The invention will be described in detail by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a section through a drum and pattern according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the drum, pattern and selector levers.

Fig. 3 is a detail view to enlarged scale showing details of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form of drum and pattern to which the invention is applied.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view similar to Fig. 3, but

7 relating to the modification of Fig. 4.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a pattern drum 1 0 is adapted to be intermittently advanced in the direction of the arrows, one space or the distancebetween sprocket teeth 11 at each step. There may be any suitable number of sprocket teeth and preferably there will be one tooth for each drum slot 12, but conceivably the teeth might be doubled or halved in number so long as the relationship to the slots remains similar so that the pattern will register with them. The drum is advanced by any intermittent motion, e.g., a Geneva movement.

A plurality of selector levers 14 of the type better shown in United States Patent 2,281,721 and application Serial No. 519,840 filed July 5, 1955, now Patent No. 2,786,343, have feeler pins 15 slidable and urged by a spring 16 so that a reduced end 17 may enter the slots 12 through a perforation in the pattern. At each movement of the drum it stops in a position in which the ends 17 of the pins center over the slot at the top. Of course,

' if the pattern 18 has no perforation for a particular move a lever back to its inactive position leaving it in readiness to feel the pattern for the next step or motion of the parts.

What has been explained here in regard to a single lever applies to a group of twenty or more controlled by the drum. Normally, some are selected and others remain inactive at each step according to the particular pattern 1n use.

The pattern 13 may be of heavy paper, but is more preferably of a cloth backed stock which is more durable. At each edge a series of sprocket holes 19, Figs. 2 and 3, engage over the sprocket teeth and thus the pattern is advanced as the drum moves. These sprocket holes have a slight clearance about the teeth as shown in Fig. 3 which shows parts about four times actual size.

A plurality of pattern perforations 20 are punched in the pattern which is, of course, endless or in the form of a belt. Depending upon the amount of patterning or size of the pattern figure, these may be of greater or lesser length, the general requirement being that the strip must be long enough to cover the pattern between repeats.

Heretofore the perforations have been symmetrically disposed about a center line through the sprocket holes and perpendicular to the length of the strips. According to the improvements herein disclosed, these perforations are advanced relatively to their former position so that they are not symmetrically disposed, but rather, have their leading edges 21 more or less in line with the same edge of their accompanying sprocket holes. Their trailing edges 22 are positioned to clear or leave open their slot 12. Thus they not only uncover or leave open the entire width of the slot, but also have considerable extension in the direction of movement so that the sprocket holes may wear considerably before the pin ends encounter or interfere with the leading edges 21. By that time the pattern will be worn generally to the point where it should be discarded anyway.

The knitter merely has to be instructed that he must always place the pattern on its drum with the leading edges, that is, those that align with the adjacent edges of the holes 19, heading in the direction of movement of the pattern. When placed on the drum in reversed position, there is a great difference in that due to the clearance of holes at the sprocket teeth the reversed perforations will cover some of their slots 12 and the elongated ends of the perforations will be seen at the following end of a slot instead of well ahead of it as should be the case.

It is much easier to indoctrinate a knitter to watch for these indications of an incorrectly positioned pattern rather than to try to identify the placement from an interpretation of the pattern itself, a thing very confusing with many patterns. Marks on the pattern become obliterated with use and many patterns are very long and, of course, one does not often stop at the point marked; thus none of these other expedients serve anywhere nearly as Well or with the certainty of the presently disclosed pattern in which an indicator is actually built into the strip as the pattern is punched and in addition, the useful life of the pattern is greatly extended.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a modification is illustrated wherein the pattern drum is one continuously rotated rather than being advanced step by step' Such a pattern means is disclosed in application Serial No. 566,132, filed February 17, 1956, now Patent No. 2,814,937, and while the drum and its sprocket teeth are generally the same as that described above, the slots 12 are formed on a helix of very great pitch so that the selecting function is carried out progressively. The pattern has its performations punched in the same line so that they bear the same relationship to the slots in the drum and to the feeler pin ends as do the perforations of the first form. In Fig. 5 these are shown to a scale comparable to that of Fig. 3 and really, the only difference is the arrangement of these pattern determining perforations and the slots on their helices rather than rectangularly. Of course, with this form of the invention, the life of a 4 pattern is extended and also the pattern cannot be reversed Without it becoming apparent at once.

While the pattern selector pins are shown abutting against the face of a slot, that is true only as they are engaged and pushed by the drum. They are centrally disposed to a slot as the drum stops at the end of a stepped advancing movement. In fact, they have the entire width of a slot to drop and a great deal of wear must occur before a pattern strip becomes so retarded that the leading edges 21 begin to close off the slot and to restrict the entry of a pin end. However, if a pattern is put on its drum in reversed position, as it is driven by the drum, the selector pins will barely enter the perforation, and in fact, will enter very erratically if at all. This makes it evident at once that the pattern is reversed.

In Figs. 4 and 5, similar parts are indicated by numerals corresponding to those of the first form except that they bear primes.

While one embodiment and a modification of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine the combination of a pattern drum having slots extending lengthwise thereof and parallel to the axis of the drum, sprocket teeth at each end of the drum, said slots and teeth being evenly disposed centrally of a line common to both, and a pattern in the form of an endless, flexible strip of sheet material to be driven by the drum, said pattern strip having at its edges series of sprocket holes for engagement over the said teeth and pattern determining perforations, a series of pattern feeler members positioned to ride upon the pattern and aligned to fall into passing slots in the drum as it is rotated, said feeler members being adapted to ride upon the strip surface at unbroken areas thereof but to pass through the perforations and to enter the underlying slot at parts of the strip having such perforations, said perforations being appreciably longer than the corresponding dimension of an entering feeler member and advanced in the direction of movement of the pattern when used with respect to a line common to and extending normally to the length of each slot, tooth and sprocket hole so that the material at the sprocket hole may wear very appreciably retarding the strip with respect to the drum without adversely affecting entry of the feeler members with pattern perforations.

2. For use in a knitting machine having a pattern drum having slots extending generally lengthwise thereof, sprocket teeth at the ends of said drum centrally spaced with respect to the center lines of said slots, an endless, flexible pattern of strip material having at its edges sprocket holes for engagement over the sprocket teeth of the drum and series of pattern perforations between said holes disposed in such manner that a substantially greater portion of each perforation is positioned forwardly in the direction of movement of the pattern when used, when related to a center line between cooperating holes at opposite sides of the pattern individual to a single line of pattern perforations and a much lesser portion of each perforation is positioned behind said center line.

3. For use in a knitting machine having a pattern drum having slots extending generally lengthwise thereof and parallel to the axis of the drum, sprocket teeth at the end of said drum centrally spaced with respect to the center lines of said slots, an endless, flexible pattern of strip material having at its edges sprocket holes for engagement over the sprocket teeth of the drum and series of aligned pattern perforations between said holes,

said aligned perforations being appreciably longer than the width of said lots and advanced in the direction of movement of the pattern when used with respect to a line common to and extending normally to the length of each slot, tooth and sprocket hole so that the material at the sprocket hole may wear very appreciably retarding the strip with respect to the drum without adversely affecting entry of the feeler members with pattern perforations.

4. For use in a knitting machine having a pattern drum having slots extending generally lengthwise and helically thereof, sprocket teeth at the end of said drum centrally spaced with respect to the center lines of said slots, an endless, flexible pattern of strip material having at its edges sprocket holes for engagement over the sprocket teeth of the drum and series of aligned pattern perforations between said holes, said aligned perforations being appreciably longer than the width of said slots and advanced in the direction of movement of the pattern when used with respect to a line common to and extending normally to the length of each slot, tooth and sprocket hole so that the material at the sprocket hole may wear very appreciably retarding the strip with respect to the drum without adversely affecting entry of the feeler members with pattern perforations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,447 Gates Aug. 11, 1896 1,017,063 Regal Feb. 13, 1912 1,797,069 Britton Mar. 17, 1931 2,696,092 Miller Dec. 7, 1954 

